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Sabbath School Lessons

Gospel by John

Chapters

15:1 to 21:25

FOR

SENIOR CLASSES

5eeo1ip

QUARTER, 1897

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY

PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING COMPANY

FOR THE

International Sabbath School Association

of Seventh

Day

Adventists

PRICE

Conte

Number 8



Oakland, Cal., April, 1897



20 Cents a Year

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thin, [wart; and thou shalt

teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine

house, and when thou walkest by the.way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest

up." Deut. 6:6,

PROGRAM FOR FAMILY STUDY OF S. S. LESSONS.

SABBATH.—(After

church services or at the close of Sabbath.) Review

the lesson of the day by relating in detail the substance of the lesson, or re-

peating the lesson scripture. Read the lesson for the intermediate division

for next Sabbath from the

Little Friend,

and learn the memory verse.

SUNDAY.—Study

the first half of the lesson in the following manner:

s. Assign a verse to each member of the family.

Then read the lesson scripture, carefully considering what each verse

says before reading the next. Be sure to have each member of the family

understand the meaning of all the words in each verse.

Select two verses to be committed to memory during the day.

Repeat the memory verse.

MONDAY.—Review

the portion of the lesson already studied.

i. Give each an opportunity to repeat the two verses that were to be

committed to memory the previous day.

Let one ask the questions from the LESSON QUARTERLY, and others

answer in turn in the words of the Scripture.

Study the last half of the lesson in the same manner that the first

half was studied on Sunday.

TUESDAY.—Repeat

the verses already committed to memory, and ask

the questions on the last half of the lesson, being sure that all understand

the questions and the meaning of the words used in them.

Select two more verses to be committed to memory during the day.

WEDNESDAY.—Repeat

the verses committed to memory, and review

the entire lesson by asking the questions in the LESSON QUARTERLY, the

Instructor,

or the

Little Friend,

as may be thought best. The number and

age of the children would usually indicate, which would be best.

THURSDAY.—Read

the lesson notes in the QUARTERLY and those in

the

Sabbath School Worker,

and any other helps that may be accessible, and

review the intermediate lesson in the

Little Friend,

or the one found in the

LESSON QUARTERLY. Repeat the verses committed to memory.

FRIDAY.—Thoroughly

review the entire lesson in the following manner:

I. Ask the questions as found in the LESSON QUARTERLY.

Call upon different ones to give a synopsis of the lesson or the lesson

story in their own language.

Let each one repeat as much of the lesson scripture as possible.

Give each one the privilege of questioning others upon the lesson.

SABBATH

—Review practical truths of the lesson, and relate personal

experiences in which the truths of the lesson have been found helpful.

(This program is simply suggestive and can of course be varied to suit circumstances,

but we do urge upon all the necessity of thorough, regular, systematic study of the Scriptures

as given in our Sabbath-school lessons.)

SABBATH SCHOOL LESSONS

•

• ON THE • •

GOSPEL BY JOHN

FOR

SENIOR CLASSES

2d QUARTER,

1897

LESSON 1.-April 3, 1897.

ABIDING IN CHRIST.

(Chapter r

, verses

Introductory Note.

AT_the Passover supper Jesus gave the instruction found in

chapters 13 and 14. Then Jesus said, "Arise, let Its go hence"

(John 14 : 35), and He and His disciples left the upper chamber,

and crossed the brook Cedron toward the Garden of Gethsem-

ane, which lies at the foot of the Mount of Olives. While on

their way the instruction found in chapters 15 and 16 was given,

and the Saviour's prayer, as recorded in chapter 17, was offered.

See chapter 18, verse r.

QUESTIONS.

I. WHAT does Christ declare Himself to be?

What is the Father?

What is done with the fruitless branch?

(3)



THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

What is done to the fruit-bearing branch? For what pur-

pose?

What was said of the condition of the disciples?

How is union with Christ urged?

On what condition only is a branch fruitful? What appli-

cation is made of this fact in nature?

Under what figure is union with Christ taught?.

What is the condition of fruitfulness for the disciple? Why

is union with Christ necessary?

so. What is done to the one who does not abide in Christ?

What is done to these withered branches?

What promise is based upon union with Christ?

12.

How is God glorified? Of what is such an experience

the evidence?

13.

What is the measure of Christ's love to man? What ex-

hortation is based upon this statement?

14.

What is the experience of abiding in Christ's love? How

is this experience illustrated to us?

15.

What is the first purpose in giving this instruction? The

second ?

NOTES.

I. THE

following extract shows the circumstances under which

the Saviour gave the instruction contained in this lesson:—

" Jesus now repaired with His disciples to the Garden of Geth-

semane, at the foot of Mount Olivet, a retired place, which He

had often visited for seasons of communion with His Father.

It was night; but the moon was shining bright, and revealed to

Him a flourishing grapevine. Drawing the attention of the dis-

ciples to it, He said, ' I am the true vine, and my Father is the

husbandman.'

"—Spirit'

of Prophecy, vol. 3, pp. 89, go.

Palestine abounded in vineyards, and the Jews were familiar

with the facts which formed the basis of the Saviour's illustra-

tion. In the Old Testament scriptures, God's people had often

been compared to a vineyard. See Ps. 8o : 8-16; Isa. 5 : 1--7;

Jer.

2 : 21.

SABBATH SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS THIS QUARTER

THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

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" PURGETH"

here means " pruneth " or " cleanseth," and

is rendered " cleanseth " in the Revised Version. So the Sav-

iour says of his disciples, who are compared to branches in

verse 5, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have

spoken unto you." Verse 3. It means the taking away of

worthless and unprofitable portions.

"THEY

are burned." As the branches which are separated

from the vine wither and die, and are cast into the fire and

burned, so those who are'separated from Christ become lifeless

branches, and are burned up, root and branch. Mal. 4

: I.

the parable of the wheat and tares, recorded in Matt. 13 : 24-30,

the Saviour compared the wicked to tares, and in explanation

of the parable He declares that the tares will be gathered and

burned in the fire (see verses 38-40). And it is a remarkable

fact that in every instance in the Scriptures where the fate of the

wicked is mentioned, and a comparison is used, they are always

compared to the most perishable or combustible materials, and

they are never compared to imperishable or enduring substances

that withstand the action of the elements and the ravages of

time. See Ps. 37:20; Isa. 1:28-31; Jo : 16-18; Nahum

1 :

9, to;

Matt. 3 :

12; 13 :

47, 48;

Cor.

3 :

13.

"ABIDE

in Me." This means a constant union with Christ,

the True Vine, by living faith and entire submission of the will

to God. When we thus abide in Christ, we shall only

will

ask according to

His

will, and then we may be sure that the

promise, " It shall be done unto you," will be fulfilled. This

was Christ's experience in His relation to the Father. His will

was wholly submitted to God's will, and His prayers were

always heard. John

II :

41, 42.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

I. CAN

a branch that has just been severed from the vine be

distinguished from the other branches by its appearance?

2. Are branches that are severed from the stock the only fruit-

less ones? Compare Matt.

21 : 19,

zo. What is the lesson?

FOR MISSION WORK IN JAPAN.

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THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

Name a few plants, trees, etc., which live and bear fruit

exclusively for themselves. How about the human tree—the

"planting of the Lord " ?

What is Christ's joy?

LESSON II.-April 10, 1897.

PRIVILEGES AND EXPERIENCES CONNECTED WITH

ABIDING IN CHRIST.

(Chapter 15, verses

12-27.)

QUESTIONS.

I. WHAT

commandment did Christ give? What example

interprets this commandment?

What is the highest exhibition of love among men?

Who are the friends of Christ?

In what way does Christ no longer speak of His followers?

Why?

What name does He use in speaking of them? Why this

change?

Through what process do men become the disciples of

Christ? To what experience are they appointed? With what

purpose in view ?

What commandment is now repeated?

What may encourage those whom the world hates?

What experience would secure the love of the world?

Why are the followers of Christ hated by the world ?

1o. What previous statement is now to be recalled ? What

experiences will the disciple share with his Master?

Ir. What is the real reason for such treatment of believers?

12.

What would have left the world free from the guilt of sin?

How is it now?

13.

How closely is Christ identified with the Father?

SABBATH SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS THIS QUARTER

THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

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14.

How was the guilt of sin brought upon the worla ? Whom

has the world hated ?

15.

What scripture has thus been fulfilled?

16.

What is the work of the Comforter? From whom does

He come? What is He called?

17.

Who will be associated in the same work? What fits

them for it?

NOTES.

I. "THEY will keep yours also." Those who are acquainted

with the Lord's sayings (the Word of God), and keep them, will

always have ears to hear His servants, and hearts to keep their

sayings. Those who know the voice of the Good Shepherd

will be able to distinguish between the voice of the false and

true under shepherds, not only because they are acquainted with

God's Word, but because they are so fully acquainted with the

Spirit of God in their own experience. They will not believe

every spirit, but they will try the spirits (1 John 4 : I), and thus

be able to discern who are the servants of God, and who are

the "false apostles, deceitful workers" (2 Cor.



13-15).

Thus those who keep Christ's sayings will keep the sayings of

His true servants.

2. "THEY

had not had sin." An important truth is taught

in verse

22.

Jesus said, " If I had not come and spoken unto

them, they had not had sin." That is, their guilt was propor-

tionate to the light given them. This was notpnly true of the

Jews then, but it has always been true of all classes, and it is

true to-day. It is a truth of general application. The light we

have determines our responsibility. Christ did not mean that

the people would be sinless if He had not come with greater

light, but that with the greater light they would be left without

excuse for sin. The law entered—was spoken—that the offense

might abound (Rom. 5 : 2o), and that sin by the commandment

might become exceeding sinful (Rom. 7 : 13). The Lord gives

light and instruction, not to

increase our guilt,

but that we may

FOR MISSION WORK IN JAPAN.

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THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

sense

our guilt, and thus be led to accept Christ and receive His

abounding grace. See Gal. 3 : 24; Rom. 5 : zo. Those who sin

without law—without light and instruction—shall also perish

without law. Rom. : 12. Christ came to give

light,

not to

condemn the world, but to save the world. John 3: 16, 17.

Without light and salvation through Christ all would perish

(Acts 4 : 12); for all have sinned (Rom. 3 : 10, 23; 5 : 12, 21).

3. "FROM the beginning." That is, from the commencement

of His public work. Luke uses the same expression (Luke I : 2),

and refers to the same time in verse 3, when he says " from the

very first," and in Acts 1 : 21, 22. Paul also mentions it, using

the expression "at the first" (Heb. 2 : 3).

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

I. WHEN did Christ give His life for man? See Rev. 13: 8.

What was the nature of the life which He gave?

What is meant by the expression in verse 16, "and that

your fruit should remain" ?

Why are God's people persecuted? Is it because they are

good, or is it because their persecutors are bad ? Verses 18, 19,

21, 25, and John 16 : 3.

LESSON 111.-April 17, 1897.

PERSECUTION AND ITS CAUSE; THE COMING OF THE

COMFORTER AND HIS WORK.

(Chapter i6, verses 1-16.)

QUESTIONS.

I. WHAT

was the purpose of the instruction already given?

What is said of excommunication?

Under what claim would the bitterest persecution be car-

ried forward?

SABBATH SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS THIS QUARTER

TFt

6c1M

...- BY JOHN.

Why would such things be possible?

Why were these things now explained? Why was it not

necessary to speak of them sooner?

What important event in Christ's experience was just at

hand? What statement does He make with reference to it?

What experience had Christ's instruction produced?

What fact did He then state? What reason did He give

for this? What promise did He then make?

On what counts will the Comforter secure the conviction

of the world ?

io. Why of sin?

Of righteousness? Of judgment?

Had Christ imparted all the instruction which He had to

give? Why did He not proceed?

12.

What would be the work of the Holy Spirit? How would

He speak? What would He speak? What will He show, or de-

clare ?

13.

Whom will the Spirit glorify? How will this be done?

14.

How much do the Father and the Son have in common?

What statement does this explain?

15.

How is the departure of Christ now mentioned? But

what would still be true in "a little while " ? Why?

NOTES.

I. "THAT we should not be offended." " Offended " here

means caused to stumble, the same as in Matt. it : 6; 18 : 6-9;

26: 31, and many other New Testament passages. It does not

mean angry, as we might be led to conclude from the use and

meaning of the word in our day.

2. "IT is expedient for you that I go away." It would be

better for God's people for Christ to go away, and send them

the Comforter, because Christ could only be present in person

in one place at the same time, whereas the Comforter could be

present everywhere at all times, to convict, convert, and sanctify

the people. Hence, in order to have the gospel do its work in

every part of the world it was necessary for Jesus to go away,

and for the Comforter to come.

FOR MISSION WORK IN JAPAN.

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THE ooshEE

BY JOHN.

REPROVE "

is translated from a word which includes the

meaning of the words " convince " and " convict." The work

of the Comforter relates to sin, righteousness, and judgment.

He convicts us of sin and cleanses us from it. He convinces of

Christ's righteousness and brings it to us. He convinces us of

a future judgment and prepares us for it. He convicts the

world of sin "because they believe not on Me." That is, with-

out faith in Christ, condemnation still rests upon them. " Of

righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no

more." That is, as the Saviour was going away, the Comforter

would manifest, or reveal, God's righteousness, teach its princi-

ples, and implant them in the hearts of men. Verses 12-15.

"Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."

That is, as Satan, the prince of this world, was judged or cast

out (see John 12: 31; Rev. 12: 7-13), at the close of the Sav-

iour's work on earth, so the Comforter would convince and

convict the world of a final judgment, when all must stand be-

fore the judgment-seat of Christ.

will show you things to come." Thus our Lord

clearly taught His people that the Holy Spirit would move upon

the hearts of His servants in this dispensation and reveal to them

future events, as well as in ancient times; in other words, that

the gift of prophecy would be exercised in the Christian church.

See Acts

2: 38,

39; Rom.

12:

6; 1

Cor. 12 : I, 7-10, 28;

Eph.

4 : 11-13.

By comparing verse 16 with John 14 : 1-3, it is evident that

Jesus is referring to his going to heaven to prepare a place for

His people.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

I. WHY

did none of them ask Christ, "Whither goest Thou " ?

What work upon the heart does the Spirit of God perform?

See 2

Cor 3 : 3; Heb. 8 : To.

How was the " prince of this world " judged ?

How does the Spirit of God show us things to come?

Are there any other parties to the partnership mentioned in

verse 15 ?

SABBATH SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS THIS QUARTER

THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

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LESSON IV.-April 24, 1897.

PARTING INSTRUCTION.

(Chapter i6, verses 57-33.)

QUESTIONS.

WHAT

inquiries did the disciples make among themselves?

How did they repeat the inquiry? What did they ac-

knowledge?

Of what was Jesus aware?

What question did He ask them?

How did He contrast their experience with that of the

world ?

What change did He say would come in their experience?

With what illustration did He enforce the teaching?

How did He apply the illustration?

What would be true "in that day " ? What promise was

made?

ro. What encouragement was given for making larger re-

quests?



•

tr. How had Christ been speaking unto His disciples? What

change would He make in His manner of teaching?

12.

How would requests be made? What would be unneces-

sary? For what reason? Upon what was this reason based?

13.

Whence came Christ? To what? What was He soon to

do?

14.

How did His disciples respond to this statement?

15.

Of what were they now convinced ? To what conclusion

did this lead them?

16.

What question did Jesus ask?

17.

What prediction did He then make? What would be His

comfort in this hour of trial?

FOR MISSION WORK IN JAPAN.

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THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

18.

For what purpose had Christ been instructing His disci-

ples?

19.

What experience awaited them? What assurance was

given ?

NOTES.

I. THE experience mentioned in verse 20 evidently refers to

the time immediately following Christ's crucifixion and resur-

rection. Compare with verse 22. From that time and onward

they were to ask nothing of Him, but to ask the Father in His

name. See verses 23-26. The reason He states in verse 27,

where He says, " For the Father Himself loveth you, because

ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God."

In this instruction we see how wisely and effectually Jesus sought

to reveal the character of God, and direct the minds of His dis-

ciples to His Father as the source of all good, by teaching them

to pray to the Father in His name.

2. THE world may hate us and harass us and cause us tribula-

tion and sorrow, but in Jesus there are rest and peace. This

peace comes from harmony with God, and the assurance that

as Christ has overcome the world, its trials, its troubles, its

temptations, and all the power of the enemy, so He will give us

power to do the same, to overcome as He overcame. Therefore

we are to be of good cheer; victory is sure; deliverance will

come.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

WHAT do you think is implied in our Saviour's statement,

"Ye shall see Me,

because

I go to the Father " ? Compare John

14 : 2; Rev. 21 : 3.

With verses 30-32 read r Cor. to : 12; first sentence of 2

Cor. 13 : 5, and 2 Peter I : 1-12.

How can we have tribulation in the world and still have

peace in Christ?

SABBATH SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS THIS QUARTER

THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

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LESSON V.—flay 1, 1897.

THE PRAYER OF CHRIST.

(Chapter 17, verses 1-13.)

QUESTIONS.

WHAT did Jesus do after speaking these words?

With what statement did He open His prayer?

What was the first petition? What was its purpose?

What power did He acknowledge that He had received?

What did He declare to be eternal life?

What had Christ accomplished during His earthly career?

What petition did He base upon this fact?

What had He done to His followers?

How did they come to be followers of Christ? What had

been their experience?

to. What had His followers learned?

tr. What had Christ imparted to them? With what result?

12.

For whom did He pray? How is the statement repeated?

13.

What statements show the complete union of the Father

and the Son?

14.

'What change was coming in Christ's experience? Where

were His followers? What petition does He make in their be-

half?

15.

What had Christ done for them? To what extent was

this true? Upon what did the exception rest?

16.

Where was Christ about to go?

17.

With what intent was He saying these things?

NOTES.

I. IN verse 2 we learn that Christ was given power or author-

ity to give eternal life to as many as the Father had given Him.

FOR MISSION WORK IN JAPAN.

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THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

By comparing this verse with verses 6-12 we learn who were

given to Him, namely, those who keep God's word. See verse

6, last clause. The reason why Judas was lost was because he

forsook Jesus, and thus departed from God's word. So when

we yield our hearts to God, to keep his word, and do not for-

sake Jesus, we will be "kept by the power of God through faith

unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." I Peter

:5.

To know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He

has sent, will make a person a Christian, a true child of God,

because he who knows God truly will love and obey Him. By

beholding we become changed into the same image. 2 Cor.

3 : 18. Our love for God will be in proportion to our acquaint-

ance with Him. Hence, eternal life is sure to those who know

God; for they are connected with the source of life.

"IN the intercessory prayer of Jesus with His Father, He

claimed that He had fulfilled the conditions which made it oblig-

atory upon the Father to fulfil His part of the contract made in

heaven with regard to fallen man. He prayed: ' I have finished

the work which thou gayest me to do. [That is, He had wrought

out a righteous character on earth as an example for men to

follow.] And now, 0 Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own

self, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world

was.'

"—Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, 15. 26o.

"I PRAY for them." " The blood of Jesus is pleading with

power and efficacy for those who are backslidden, for those who

are rebellious, for those who sin against great light and love.

Satan stands at our right hand to accuse us, and our Advocate

stands at God's right hand to plead for us. He has never lost

a case that has been committed to Him. We may trust in our

Advocate, for He pleads His own merits in our behalf. Hear

His prayer before his betrayal and trial, . . . and let every

word be engraven upon the tablets of the soul."—Review

and

Herald, August 15, 1893.

SABBATH SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS THIS QUARTER

THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

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SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

I. WHY

are people destroyed? Compare Hos. 4 : 6; Isa. 5: 13;

Jer. 8 : 7, and John 4: 22. What, then, is our mission?

Do you also glorify God in the earth? How? See John

15 : 8.

To what did Jesus refer in verse 5, when He prayed the

Father to glorify Him with the glory which He (Christ) had with

Him before the world was? Compare also with verse 22 in the

next lesson.

How does the Father respond to the request in verse xi?

See Zech. 2 : 8.

LESSON V1.—Clay 8, 1897.

THE PRAYER OF CHRIST — Continued.

(Chapter 17, verses 14-26.)

QUESTIONS.

I. WHAT

did Christ say that He had given to His disciples?

What feeling had the world displayed toward them?

Why?

What experience did Christ not ask for His disciples?

What did He desire for them?

What did He say of them?

What petition did He offer in their behalf?

How did He identify their experience with His own?

Through what experience had He passed? For what pur-

pose?

How many are included in Christ's prayer?

to. What was His desire for all? What kind of unity did He

have in mind? What effect would this have upon the world?

tr. What had He given to His disciples? For what purpose?

(

FOR MISSION WORK IN JAPAN.

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THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

12.

How is such unity secured ? What would the world thus

be led to acknowledge?

13.

What was Christ's wish? What privilege would thus be

conferred? Since when did God love His Son?

14.

Who did not know God ? Who did know Him? What

did the disciples know?

15.

What had Christ done? What would He continue to do?

With what purpose in view?

NOTES.

I. " IT is the will of God that union and brotherly love should

exist among His people. The prayer of Christ just before His

crucifixion was that His disciples might be one as He is one with

the Father, that the world might believe that God had sent Him.

This most touching and wonderful prayer reaches down the

ages, even to our day; for His words were, ' Neither pray I for

these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through

their word.' While we are not to sacrifice one principle of

truth, it should be our constant aim to reach this state of unity.

This is the evidence of our discipleship. Said Jesus, ' By this

shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one

to another.'

"—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 520.

2. "THE children of God are those who are partakers of His

nature. It is not earthly rank, nor birth, nor nationality, nor

religious privilege, which proves that we are members of the

family of God; it is love,—a love that embraces all humanity.

Even sinners, whose hearts are not utterly closed to God's

Spirit, will respond to kindness; while they may give hate for

hate, they will also give love for love. But it is only the Spirit

of God that gives love for hatred. To be kind to the unthank-

ful and to the evil, to do good, hoping for nothing again, is the

insignia of the royally of heaven,

the sure token by which the

children of the Highest reveal their high estate."—

Thoughts

from the Mount of Blessing, p.

SABBATH SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS THIS QUARTER

THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

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3. IT

is a most encouraging and comforting thought that the

Father loves us the same as He loves His only-begotten Son.

This is clearly stated in the Saviour's prayer. See verse

23.

But this is not all; the same love which God has for His Son

and for us,—" the love of God,"—is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5: 5) if we are true believers, and

Jesus reveals the Father to us that this experience may be ours

(Rom. 5: x). He says, "And I have declared unto them Thy

name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith Thou hast

loved Me may be in them, and I in them." Verse

26.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

I. STUDY

Christ's manner of living in this world (see Matt.

8 : 20;

and

10 : 25),

and read again verse 18 of our lessbn. Are

we content to be as our Master?

By what means can the union for which Jesus prayed be

secured among God's people?

Since God loves me

He loved Christ, and since He loved

Him

because

he " lay down His life for the sheep," what ought

to be my attitude toward the sheep? See x John

3 : 16.

LESSON VII.—flay 15, 1897.

THE BETRAYAL AND ARREST OF CHRIST.

(Chapter 18, verses r—r8.)

QUESTIONS.

I. WHERE

did Jesus now go? What particular place did He

visit ?

Who knew about this place? How did he learn of it?

Who also carhe to this place? Who were with him?

What did Jesus then do? What did He say?

FOR MISSION WORK IN JAPAN.

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THE GOSPEL 13Y JOHN.

What repay was made? What information did Jesus then

give them? Who was among the mob?

What effect did the words of Jesus have upon the crowd?

What inquiry did Jesus repeat? What reply was made?

What answer and request did Jesus make?

What word of Christ was thus fulfilled?

fo.

What attempt was now made to defend Christ? Who

was wounded?

I1.

What instruction did Christ then give? In what words

did He show His complete submission to God's will?

12.

What was then done to Jesus?

13.

To whom was He taken? In what way was this man

connected with the high priest?

14.

How had Caiaphas already brought himself into promi-

nence?

15.

Who followed Jesus? To whom was one of them known?

What did he do?

16.

Where did the other remain? How did he gain admis-

sion to the trial?

17.

What question was then asked him? What reply did he

make ?

18.

Who were in the company? What had they done? Why?

Who was among them? What was he doing?

NOTES.

I. " HE

[Jesus] stood in advance of His disciples, and in-

quired, ' Whom seek ye?' They answered, Jesus of Nazareth.'

Jesus replied, ' I am He.' As these words were uttered, the

mob staggered back; and the priests, elders, soldiers, and

even Judas, dropped powerless to the ground. This gave

Jesus ample opportunity to escape from them if He had chosen

to do so. But He stood as one glorified amid that coarse and

hardened band. When Jesus answered, I am He,' the angel

who had lately ministered unto Him moved between Him and

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JOHN.

the murderous mob, who saw a divine light illuminating the

Saviour's face, and a dove-like form overshadowing Him. Their

wicked hearts were filled with terror. They could not for a

moment stand upon their feet in the presence of this divine

glory, and they fell as dead men to the ground. . . .

" When the angel departed, the Roman soldiers started to

their feet, and with the priests and Judas, gathered about Christ,

as though ashamed of their weakness, and fearful that He would

yet escape from their hands. Again the question was asked by

the Redeemer, ' Whom seek ye?' Again they answered, ' Jesus

of Nazareth.' The Saviour then said, ' I have told you that I am

He. If, therefore, ye seek Me, let these go their way'—point-

ing to the disciples. In this hour of humiliation, Christ's

thoughts were not for Himself, but for His beloved disciples.

He wished to save them from any farther trial of their

strength."—Spirit

of Prophecy, vol. 3, pp. 102, 103.

" BAND," "captain," and " officers." Josephus says that

at the festival of the Passover, when a great multitude of peo-

ple came to observe the feast, lest there should be any disorder,

a band of men was commanded to keep watch at the porches

of the temple, to repress a tumult if any should be excited.

This band, or guard, was at the disposal of the chief priests.

See Matt.

: 65. It was composed of Roman soldiers, and was

stationed chiefly at the tower of Antonia, at the northwest side

of the temple. In addition to this, they had constant guards

stationed around the temple, composed of Levites. "The cap-

tain and officers of the Jews" probably referred to those who

had charge of the temple guard.

JESUS

was brought before Annas first because he was prob-

ably regarded by the Jews as the legitimate high priest, accord-

ing to their customs. He was deposed by Valerius Gratus, and

after several changes, Caiaphas, his son-in-law, was chosen.

See Alford's Notes on Luke 3

: 2.

By reference to that scripture

it will be seen that both were counted as high priests at the

time John the Baptist began his ministry.

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Bit joHN.

4. "THE

coldest hour of the night was that preceding the

dawn, and a fire had been lighted in the hall. Around this a

company were gathered; and Peter presumptuously took his

place with the rest by the fire, and stood warming himself. He

did not wish to be recognized as one of the disciples of Jesus,

and he thought by mingling carelessly with the people he would

be taken for one of those who had brought Jesus to the hall."

" Many who do not hesitate to engage in active warfare for

the Lord, are driven to deny their faith through the ridicule of

their enemies. They place themselves in the way of temptation

by associating with those whom they should avoid. They thus

invite the enemy to tempt them, and are led to do and say that

which they would never have been guilty of under other circum-

stances. The disciple of Christ who in our day disguises his

faith through dread of suffering or reproach, denies his Lord as

virtually as did Peter in the judgment-hall. There are always

those who boast of their freedom of thought and action, and

laugh at the scruples of the conscientious who fear to do wrong.

Yet if those righteous persons are persuaded to yield their faith,

they are despised by the very ones who were Satan's agents to

tempt them to their

ruin."—Spirit

of Prophecy, vol. 3, pp.

107,

1°8, II 2, 113.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

t. How did Jesus know all things that should come upon

Him?

Compare verse 8 with John to: tt, 12. How do the Shep-

herd's words and the facts compare?

What lesson may we draw from verse it, with reference to

Church and State, and also as to our conduct when assailed

with carnal weapons?

If we begin to follow Peter's example (verse to), is there

not danger of continuing in the course he pursued that night?

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LESSON V111.—Ilay 22, 1897.

THE ECCLESIASTICAL TRIAL; THE CIVIL TRIAL.

(Chapter 18, verses 19-40.)

QUESTIONS.

I. ON

what points was Jesus then examined?

To whom did Jesus say He had spoken? Where had He

taught? What plan of teaching had He avoided?

What course did He recommend to the high priest? Why

ought this to be satisfactory?

What did one of the officers then do? What inquiry ac-

companied the blow?

How did Jesus respond to this insult?

To whom was Jesus then taken? See Revised Version.

Where was Peter? What inquiry was addressed to him

the second time? How did he answer?

How was he questioned the third time? Who asked him

this time?

How did he meet the question? What then happened?

to. To what place did they now take Jesus? What time was

it? Did the Jews accompany Him? Why not? What did they

wish to do?

II.

Who came out to them? What did he demand?

12.

What charge did the Jews make in reply?

13.

What did Pilate instruct them to do?

14.

Why did this not satisfy them?

15.

What prediction was thus being fulfilled?

16.

Where did Pilate then go? How did he begin his exam-

ination of Jesus?

17.

What response did Jesus make?

18.

With what inquiry did Pilate answer him? Who did he

say had brought Jesus for trial? What did he ask?

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19.

How did Jesus explain the fact that He had been deliv-

ered up without any outbreak?

20.

What inquiry did Pilate again make?

21.

What did Jesus say of His mission?

22.

With what inquiry did Pilate close his examination?

23.

Where did he then go? What did he say of Jesus?

24.

To what custom did he then refer? What question did

he ask in reference to it?

25.

How did the Jews respond to this effort to release Jesus?

Who was Barabbas ?

NOTES.

I. " LEST they should be defiled." The accusers of Jesus

considered the touch of a Gentile to be a source of defilement,

and on this occasion they were so afraid of being polluted that

they would not enter the house of a Gentile. They could cher-

ish malice and murder in their hearts, and imbrue their hands

in the blood of Jesus, but they were exceedingly careful to

avoid defilement by touching a sinner. This shows how much

more concerned men will often be to avoid the violation of

mere forms of religion than to have the heart pure and the life

holy. Some will endeavor to quiet their consciences amid their

deeds of wickedness, by the observance of the ceremonies of

religion.

2. JESUS had foretold how He would be putto death, and who

would do it. Matt. 20: 19. He was to be crucified by the Ro-

mans, as that was their manner of executing criminals at that

time. This explains the statement made in verses 31, 32. Of

course the Jews secured His conviction, and were therefore held

responsible for His death. John 19 : it; Acts 4 : to; 7 : 52.

" MY kingdom is not of this world;" that is, of this world

in its present state; is not given by this world, neither is it of

the same nature as earthly kingdoms. They are ruled by force,

and their subjects fight to defend them. Not so, however, with

Christ's kingdom. He says, " If My kingdom were of this

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world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be de-

livered to the Jews." Verse 36. The Christian is not to fight

with carnal weapons to defend his Master or his cause.

Christ's reign now is spiritual. His dominion is over the heart,

subduing evil passions and corrupt desires. Love, and not

force, is the ruling principle; and while there is a warfare to be

waged, the weapons are spiritual and not carnal. See 2 Cor.

10 : 4; Eph. 6 : to-17.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

WHY did Jesus answer some questions at His trial and re-

fuse to answer others? See verses 19, 23, 33-37; 19 :

Matt. 27 : 11-14, and Mark

6o-62.

Was it the Church or the State that put Christ to death?

Was there a union of the Jewish Church and the Roman

State? See Mark 3 : 6;

12 : 13;

Luke zo :

20;

Matt.

22 :

16. Who

were the Herodians?

LESSON IX.—May 29, 1897.

THE CONDEMNATION OF CHRIST.

(Chapter

59,

verses 1-16.)

QUESTIONS.

I. WHAT. did Pilate now do to Jesus?

What did the soldiers make? Where did they put it?

With what did they clothe Him?

How did they salute Him? What did they do to Him?

Where did Pilate then go? What did he say?

Who next came out? How was He arrayed? How was

He introduced to the mob?

What effect did the sight of Jesus have upon the leaders

of the people?

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How did Pilate respond to their demand ?

What did the Jews say the punishment of Jesus ought to

be? Why?

What effect did this statement have upon Pilate? Where

did he go? What did he ask? How did Jesus treat the ques-

tion ?

1o. With what inquiries did Pilate press Jesus for an answer?

it. How did Jesus meet this assertion of power over Him?

Where did He place the larger measure of responsibility?

12.

What effect did this have upon Pilate?

13.

What pressure did the Jews then bring to bear upon him

to secure the condemnation of Jesus?

14.

How far did they succeed ?

15.

What day was it? What time of the day? How did

Pilate again present Jesus to the Jews?

16.

What response was made to him?

17.

What question did Pilate then ask ? How was it an-

swered ?

i8. How did he then yield to their demands?

19. What did they do with Jesus?

NOTES.

I. WHEN Pilate asked Jesus the question, "Whence art

Thou ?" Jesus gave him no answer. Verse 9. " Pilate was

vexed at the silence of Jesus, and haughtily addressed Him :

Speakest Thou not unto me? knowest Thou not that I have

power to crucify Thee, and have power to release Thee? Jesus

•

answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, ex-

cept it were given thee from above; therefore he that delivered

Me unto thee hath the greater sin.' Jesus here laid the heaviest

burden of guilt upon the Jewish judges, who had received

unmistakable evidence of the divinity of Him whom they had

condemned to death, both from the prophecies and His own

teachings and miracles. What a scene was this to hand down

to the world through all time ! The pitying Saviour, in the

midst of His intense suffering and grief, excuses as far as pos-

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sible the act of Pilate, who might have released Him from the

power of His enemies."—Spirit

of Prophecy, vol. 3,p.

The Saviour's answer shows that no power can be exercised

against the cause or people of God, except what the Lord per-

mits, and the Lord will permit that only which will be for the

good of those who love Him. This should be a source of great

comfort to the tempted, buffeted, persecuted child of God as

he battles with Satan and the powers of darkness.

THE

statement made in verse 14, that it was about the

sixth hour when the trial closed and the decision was made to

crucify Jesus, presents a chronological difficulty when compared

with the statements made in the other Gospels. Various theo-

ries or ideas have been advanced for the purpose of removing

the difficulty. The one most generally adopted is that there

was an error in transcribing the numeral in verse 14. This

would not be a strange mistake, because it has been proven

that it was common at that time to use letters to indicate num-

bers, instead of writing them out in words, and that the letters

which were used to represent the numbers three and six might

easily be mistaken for each other. Therefore the conclusion

is reached that the numeral letter in John

19 :

14 should have

been transcribed third instead of sixth, and thus it would har-

monize with the statements in the other Gospels.

THE

great lengths to which people will go in wickedness

and oppression when they reject light and close their minds

and hearts against the evidences of truth, is illustrated in the

cases of Pilate and the chief priests. " Pilate had taken step

after step in the violation of his conscience, and in excusing

himself from judging with equity and fairness, as his position

demanded he should do, until now he found himself almost help-

less in the hands of the Jews." " His wavering and indecision

proved his irredeemable ruin. How many, like Pilate, sacrifice

principle and integrity, in order to shun disagreeable conse-

quences! Conscience and duty point one way, and self-interest

points another ; and the current, setting strongly in the wrong

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direction, sweeps away into the thick darkness of guilt him who

compromises with

evil."—Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, pp. 142,

17-

But, as before shown, Jesus laid the heaviest burden of guilt

upon the Jewish judges, because they had greater light, both

from the prophecies and Christ's teachings and miracles.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

I. WHAT relation did the crown of thorns which Jesus wore

bear to the curse mentioned in Gen. 3: 17, 18?

Pilate said, " Behold the

man ;"

John the Baptist cried,

" Behold the

Lamb of God ;"

what think ye of Christ?

Read John It : 47-50. They started out to

save the nation

by crucifying Christ. What were they finally willing to do to

compass His death? (See John 19: 15.)

LESSON X.—June 5, 1897.

THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST.

(Chapter 19, verses 17-37.)

QUESTIONS.

I. WHERE

did Jesus now go? What is the name in

Hebrew? What did He carry?

What was done to Him there? How was His death

made more humiliating?

What did Pilate prepare? Where did he place it? How

did it read?

Who read this writing? What two facts caused it to be

read by many of the people?

What change did the leaders ask him to make in the

writing?

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What reply did Pilate make?

After Jesus was on the cross, what did the soldiers do?

What was peculiar about the coat of Jesus?

What did they say about dividing the coat? What scrip-

ture was thus fulfilled? Was this done?

Who were near the cross?

1o. What two persons did Jesus see among them? What did

He say to His mother? To the disciple?

it. How was the dying wish of Jesus respected?

12.

Of what was Jesus now aware? What did He say?

Why?

13.

What was conveniently near? What did some of the

attendants do?

14.

After this what did Jesus say? What did He do?

15.

What request did the Jews make with reference to those

who had been crucified ? What was the reason for this request?

i6. What did the soldiers then do?

17.

Why did they not do the same to Jesus?

18.

How did.one of them make sure of the death of Jesus?

What unusual result followed?

19.

Who has testified of this? Why was this genuine testi-

mony borne?

zo. With what were these things in harmony?

21. How had this scene already been described?

NOTES.

I. " GOLGOTHA

is a Hebrew word which signifies the place

of a skull. The original Greek word in Luke

23:

33 means a

skull, and the Latin word "Calvary" signifies a skull or place of

skulls. It is not known positively why this name was given to

the place. Some have thought it was because the hill resem-

bled a human skull in shape; others think it was so called

because it was a place for the execution of criminals.

2. "PILATE then wrote an inscription in three different lan-

guages, and placed it upon the cross, above the head of Jesus.

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It ran thus : ' This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.' This inscrip-

tion, placed so conspicuously upon the cross, irritated the Jews.

In Pilate's court they had cried, ' Crucify Him ! We have no

king but Cesar!' They declared that whoever claimed other

than Csar for a king was a traitor. But they had overreached

themselves in disclaiming any desire to have a king of their

own nation. Pilate, in this inscription, wrote out the senti-

ments which they had expressed. It was a virtual declaration,

and so understood by all, that the Jews acknowledged that, on

account of their allegiance to the Roman power, any man who

aspired to be king of the Jews, however innocent in other

respects, should be judged by them worthy of death. There

was no other offense named in the inscription ; it simply stated

that Jesus was the king of the

Jews."—Spirit

of Prophecy, vol. 3,

p•

55.

3. "THE

eyes of Jesus wandered over the multitude that had

collected together to witness His death, and He saw at the foot of

the cross, John supporting Mary, the mother of Christ. . . .

He looked upon the grief-stricken face of His mother, and then

upon John. Said He, addressing the former, 'Woman, behold'

thy son 1' then to the disciple, ' Behold thy mother!' John

well understood the words of Jesus, and the sacred trust which

was committed to him. He immediately removed the mother

of Christ from the fearful scene of Calvary. From that hour he

cared for her as would a dutiful son, taking her to his own

home. 0 pitiful, loving Saviour! Amid all His physical pain,

and mental anguish, He had a tender, thoughtful care for the

mother who had borne Him. He had no money to leave her

by which to insure her future comfort, but He was enshrined in

the heart of John, and He gave His mother unto the beloved

disciple as a sacred legacy. . . . The followers of Christ

should feel that it is a part of their religion to respect and pro-

vide for their parents. No pretext of religious devotion can

excuse a son or daughter from fulfilling the obligations due to

a parent."—Id., pp.

.16o, P51

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" JESUS

did not yield up His life till He had accomplished

the work which He came to do ; and He exclaimed with His

parting breath, `It is finished ! ' Angels rejoiced as the words

were uttered ; for the great plan of redemption was being tri-

umphantly carried out. There was joy in heaven that the sons

of Adam could now, through a life of obedience, be exalted

finally to the presence of God. Satan was defeated, and knew

that his kingdom was lost."—Id.,

pp.

167, 168.

" THE

consent of the governor having been obtained, the

legs of the two that were crucified with Jesus were broken, to

hasten their death ; but Jesus was already dead, and they broke

not His legs. The rude soldiers who had witnessed the looks

and words of Jesus upon His way to Calvary, and while dying

upon the cross, were softened by what they had witnessed, and

were restrained from marring Him by breaking His limbs.

Thus was prophecy fulfilled, which declared that a bone of Him

should not be broken; and the law of the Passover, requiring

the sacrifice to be perfect and whole, was also fulfilled in the

offering of the Lamb of God : They shall leave none of it until

the morning, nor break any bone of it ; according to all the ordi-

nances of the Passover they shall keep it,'

"—Id., pp.

171,

172.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

I. HAS

the seamless coat of Jesus any spiritual significance?

How did Jesus know "all things were accomplished " ?

and how did He know it was necessary for Him to say, "I

thirst" in order "that the Scripture might be fulfilled " ? (See

article on first page of October,

1896,

Sabbath School Worker.)

Why was John so particular to mention the fact that water

and blood flowed from the Saviour's side when it was pierced?

What caused the death of Jesus—the nails, the spear-

thrust, or some other " wound " ?

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LESSON XI.—June 12, 1897.

BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

(Chapter 19 : 38 to 20: io.

)

QUESTIONS.

I. AFTER

the death of Jesus, what request was made of

Pilate?

What is said of him who made the request?

Who else came forward to assist? What help did he

render?

What did they do to the body of Jesus?

What was there in Golgotha? What was in the garden?

Had it ever been used?

What use was now made of it? What made this a nat-

ural thing to do?

Who first visited the sepulcher? What day was it?

What time of the day? What did she see?

To whom did she go? What did she say to them?

On hearing this what did they do?

10.

What showed their haste? Who reached the sepulcher

first?

What did he then do?

12.

Who came next? What did he do? What did he see?

What apparently minor detail is fully described ?

13.

Who now entered the sepulcher? What effect did seeing

have upon him?

14.

What teaching was not yet understood by them?

15.

Where did they now go?

NOTES.

I. " JOHN

was at a loss to know what measures he should

take in regard to the body of his beloved Master. . . . But

Joseph and Nicodemus came to the front in this emergency.

Both of these men were members of the Sanhedrin, and

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acquainted with Pilate. Both were men of wealth and influ-

ence." " Neither of these men had openly attached himself

to the Saviour while He was living, although both believed

on Him. They knew that if they declared their faith they

would be excluded from the Sanhedrin council, on account of

the prejudice of the priests and elders toward Jesus. This

would have cut them off from all power to aid or protect Him

by using their influence in the council. Several times they had

shown the fallacy of the grounds of His condemnation, and

protested against His arrest, and the council had broken up

without accomplishing that for which it had been called to-

gether; for it was impossible to procure the condemnation of

Jesus without the unanimous consent of the Sanhedrin. The

object of the priests had finally been obtained by calling a

secret counsel, to which Joseph and Nicodemus •were not

summoned.

" The two councilors now came boldly forth to the aid of the

disciples. The help of these rich and honored men was greatly

needed at that time. They could do for the slain Saviour what

it was impossible for the poorer disciples to do ; and their influ-

ential positions protected them in a great measure from censure

and remonstrance."—Spirit

of Prophecy, vol. 3, p p. 173, 175.

2. EMBALMING

among the Jews consisted mainly in wrapping

the body in many folds of linen with a profusion of aromatic

spices—myrrh, aloes, etc.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

I. WAS

it an ordinary request which Joseph made in asking

for the body of Jesus?

Who first announced that Jesus had risen? Are there any

other instances where woman has led out in God's work?

In connection with such an event, and amid such exciting

scenes, why is such pains taken to describe the position of a

napkin?

Why did



disciples not know the Scripture that He

must rise again from the dead ? Is there any lesson here for us?

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LESSON XII.—June 19, 1897.

THE INFALLIBLE PROOFS.

(Chapter zo, verses 11-31.)

QUESTIONS.

Wim still remained at the sepulcher?

What did she do?

What did she see?

What inquiry did the angels make?

What answer did Mary give?

Whom did she then see? Did she recognize Him?

What questions did Jesus address to her?

Whom did she suppose Him to be? What did she say to

Him?

How did Jesus reply? What response did this call out?

io. What did Jesus request her not to do? What message

did He intrust to her?

it. To whom did Mary then go? What did she say to them?

12.

How did Jesus then reveal Himself to His disciples?

What day of the week was it? What time of the day? What

precautions had been taken ? Why? What did Jesus say to

them?

13.

What proofs did He then give of His real presence?

What was the effect upon the disciples?

14.

What did Jesus further say to them?

15.

What did He then impart to them?

16.

What authority was thus to be exercised through them?

17.

Who was absent on this occasion?

18.

What did the other disciples tell him?

19.

What evidence did he demand before he would believe?

20.

How long before the next meeting? Wht was present?

Who came to them? How did He greet them?

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21.

What did Jesus invite Thomas to do? What did He urge

upon Him?

22.

What effect did this have upon Thomas?

23.

What did Jesus say of his faith? What experience did

He commend?

24.

Were all the acts of Jesus recorded by John?

25.

What was the purpose in writing the things which, were

recorded? What was to be the result of such faith?

NOTES.

I. " THE same day at evening, being the first day of the

week." This was the same day in which the events took place

which are narrated in the previous eighteen verses. From this

we know that the meeting recorded in verse 19 occurred in the

evening following the first day of the week. The following

account of the arrival at Jerusalem of the two disciples from

Emmaus after Jesus had made Himself known to them, will be

of interest to the student:—

" When the disciples arrived at Jerusalem, they entered the

eastern gate, which was open on festal occasions. The houses

were dark and silent, but they made their way through the nar-

row streets by the light of the rising moon. They knew that

they would find their brethren in the memorable upper cham-

ber where Jesus had spent the last night before His death.



Cautious hands unbarred the door to the repeated demand

of the two

travelers ; they entered, and with them also entered

Jesus, who had been their unseen companion all the way. . .

When the disciples from Emmaus entered with their joyful

tidings, they were met by the exclamation from many voices,

`The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.'

"—

Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, pp. 216, 217.

2. " WHosEsoEvER sins ye remit, they are remitted unto

them." " Jesus, in giving the disciples their first commission,

had said, ' I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of

heaven, and whatsoever thou [referring to responsible men

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who should represent His church] shall bind upon earth shall

be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth

shall be loosed in heaven.' In renewing the commission of

those to whom He had imparted the Holy Ghost, He said,

Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and

whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.' These words

conveyed to the disciples a sense of the sacredness of their

work, and its tremendous results. Imbued with the Spirit of

God, they were to go forth, preaching the merits of a sin-

pardoning Saviour ; and they had the assurance that all Heaven

was interested in their labors, and that what they did on earth,

in the Spirit and power of Christ, should be ratified in heaven.

. . . The Saviour taught that

His

is the only name given un-

der heaven whereby men shall be saved. Jesus, however, dele-

gated to His church upon earth, in her organized capacity, the

power to censure, and to remove censure, according to the

rules prescribed by inspiration ; but these acts were only to be

done by men of good repute, who were consecrated by the

great Head of the church, and who showed by their lives that

they were earnestly seeking to follow the guidance of the Spirit

of God."—Id.,

pp.

44,

45-

Through the labors of the apostles and God's servants in

preaching the

Word,

people would believe the gospel, and their

sins would be remitted, as illustrated on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2: 37, 38. The power of God's Word over the people,

when proclaimed by God's servants, is also illustrated in the

case of Jeremiah. (See Jer.

:9, to.)

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

I. WHAT

lesson is there for us in the tarrying of Jesus to

meet Mary at the sepulcher?

Jesus said to Mary, " Touch Me not " (verse 17), and yet

later He permitted His disciples to touch Him (see Matt. 28: 9).

How do you explain this?

In the light of verse 23, Matt. 18: 15-18; and Jer. 50: 2o,

is there any importance attached to membership in the church?

SABBATH SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS THIS QUARTER

THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.



LESSON XIII.----June 26, 1897.

THE MEETING AT THE SEA OF GALILEE.

(Chapter

21.)

QUESTIONS.

I. WHERE

did Jesus next reveal Himself to His disciples?

How many of them were together?

What did Peter say? What reply did the others make?

What did they then do? What success did they have?

Who was on the land? Did they recognize Him?

What inquiry did Jesus make? What did they answer?

What instruction did He then give them? What result

attended it?

What did one of the disciples then say? What did Peter

do?

How did the others reach the land? How far off were they?

On reaching land what did they see?

Do. What did Jesus ask them to do?

tr. What was the extent of their catch? What remarkable

fact is stated?

12.

What invitation did Jesus now extend to them? What

was each one afraid to do? Why?

13.

How did Jesus minister unto them?

14.

How many times had Jesus now appeared to His dis-

ciples?

15.

After they had eaten, what did Jesus say to Peter? What

was the reply? What instruction did He then give him?

16.

How were the question and reply repeated? What was

the instruction?

17.

What did Jesus ask the third time? How did this affect

Peter? What did he say? What instruction was again given?

18.

How did Jesus then contrast Peter's past and future

experiences?

FOR MISSION WORK IN JAPAN.



THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

19.

What was He foretelling? What command did He then

give?

20.

Who then attracted Peter's attention?

21.

What inquiry did he address to Jesus?

22.

What reply did Jesus make ?

23.

What report was based upon this statement? Was this

what Jesus said? What did He say?

24.

Who was this disciple? What is stated of his testimony?

25.

Are these all the acts of Jesus? How extensive would be

the full record of His doings?

26.

What is the closing word?

NOTES.

"THEY

remembered that at the commencement of His

ministry a similar scene had been enacted to that which had

just taken place. Jesus had then bade them launch out into

the deep, and let down their nets for a draught, and the net

had broken because of the amount of fishes taken. Then He

bade them leave their nets and follow Him, and He would

make them fishers of men. This last miracle that Jesus had

just wrought was for the purpose of making the former miracle

more impressive ; that the disciples might perceive that, not-

withstanding they were to be deprived of the personal compan-

ionship of their Master, and of the means of sustenance by the

pursuit of their favorite employment, yet a resurrected Saviour

had a care over them, and would provide for them while they

were doing His Work. Jesus also had a purpose in bidding

them cast their net upon the right side of the ship. On that

side stood Christ upon the shore. If they labored in connection

with Him—His divine power uniting with their human effort—

they would not fail of success.

" The repetition of the miraculous draught of fishes was a

renewal of Christ's commission to His disciples. It showed

them that the death of their Master did not remove their obli-

gation to do the work which He had assigned them."—Spirit

of Prophecy, vol. 3, pp.

228, 229.

SABBATH SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION'S THIS QUARTER

THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.



"THE

disciples expected that Peter would no longer be

allowed to occupy the prominent position in the work which he

had hitherto held, and he himself had lost his customary self-

confidence. But Jesus, while dining by the seaside, singled

out Peter, saying, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more

than these?' referring to his brethren. . . . Three times

had Peter openly denied his Lord, and three times did Jesus

draw from him the assurance of his love and loyalty, by pressing

home that pointed question, like a barbed arrow, to his wounded

heart. Jesus, before, the assembled disciples, brought out the

depth of Peter's penitence, and showed how thoroughly hum-

bled was the once boasting disciple. He was now intrusted

with the important commission of caring for the flock of Christ.

Though every other qualification might be unexceptionable,

yet without the love of Christ he could not be a faithful shep-

herd over the Christian flock."—Id., pp.

229-231.

JESUS

here explicitly stated to Peter the fact and manner

of his death; He even referred to the stretching forth of his hands

upon the cross ; and after He had thus spoken, He repeated His

former injunction, Follow Me.' The disciple was not dis-

concerted by the revelation of his Master. He felt willing to

suffer any death for his Lord. Peter saw that John was follow-

ing, and a desire came over him to know

his

future, and he

saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith

unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

follow thou Me.' Peter should have considered that his Lord

would reveal to him all that it was best for him to know, with-

out inquiry on his part. It is the duty of every one to follow

Christ, without undue anxiety as to the duty assigned to others.

In saying of John, ' If I will that he tarry till I come,' Jesus gave

no assurance that this disciple should live until the second com-

ing of Christ ; He merely asserted His own supreme power, and

that even if He should will this to be so, it would in no way

affect the work of Peter. The future of both John and Peter

was in the hands of the Lord, and obedience in following Him

was the duty required of each."—Id.,

pp. 2

2, 2

FOR MISSION WORK IN JAPAN.



THE GOSPEL BY JOHN.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

I. IN

the fishing incident what lesson may we learn about

Jesus' relation to us in our daily duties?

To how many who love Jesus does He address the com-

mand, Feed My lambs ; feed My sheep?

According to verse

22,

who am Ito watch ?

What help have you received personally from the study of

the lessons on the Gospel by John?

" FEED

riv

SHEEP."

"Eau

the sun had kissed the ripples

Of a far-off eastern sea,

On its shore the night-long fishers

Saw the Man of Calvary.

He had borne the taunts and jeering,

Borne the cross and thorny crown,

Borne the angry oaths and mockings,

Borne the sins that crushed Him down.

"Now the grave had opened for Hint;

All death's shackles shattered lay;

Stood He there the Godhead emblem

Of the resurrection day.

Lovea disciples gathered round Him,

Listening to each word that fell,

Glad for e'en a broken whisper

From the lips they loved so well.

"' In the courts of highest heaven,

Glories, riches, and renown,

All were given—freely given;

In the grave I laid them down.

Now My hungry flock is straying

O'er the mountains wild and steep.

Tell Me, Peter, dost thou love Me?'

'Yea, Thou knowest.' Feed My sheep.

Feed them with the bread I give thee

Feed them with a tender care;

Call upon Me in thy trouble,

I will hear—I'll meet thee there.

Feed them not on honeyed fables,

Earthly pleasures, husks, and shams;

I have ransomed e'en the weakest.

Dost thou love Me? Feed My lambs.'"

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